Peter Gutwein,Premier & Minister for Tourism
The first of the new direct passenger flights from Hobart to Flinders and King Islands have touched down, giving more Tasmanians the ability to explore these unique parts of our state.
I’m advised ticket sales have taken off, with more than 1,000 Tasmanians already snapping up the opportunity to fly direct to two jewels in Tasmania’s tourism crown.
Sharp Airlines will be operating three services per week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between Hobart and both Flinders and King Islands.
The direct flights are expected to inject thousands of dollars into the Islands’ economies and will be an important link for islanders to travel to Hobart and also experience everything on offer in the south of Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is supporting these services for an initial 18 week trial period, underwriting the services until the end of January. Based on a 50% take up over this period, the underwritten cost will be around $225,000.
This trial period gives Tasmanians the opportunity to support the service and will determine its future viability and the commitment of the airline to sustain the service.
Importantly, Tasmanians are able to use their travel vouchers to explore the Islands with registrations open via the Make Yourself at ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ website from 7pm tonight.
